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Christianity in japan 



By 

THE REV. BISHOP 
MERRIMAN C. HARRIS, D. D. 




CINCINNATI : JENNINGS AND GRAHAM 
NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS 






FEE 1? !yU8 J 

/-I 



Copyright, 1907, by 
Jennings & Graham 



INTRODUCTION 

A hand-book summarized is all that is 
attempted in this little venture. Japan and 
her people are so well known to the average 
reader, that this part of the booklet is very 
much abridged. 

It is hoped that those who are too busy 
to read larger volumes and more adequate 
accounts of this perennially interesting land, 
may find some profit in perusing this brief 
story of Christian effort within its borders. 

May all who take the trouble to glance 
at its contents offer a prayer that Japan — 
the land of many hopes — may speedily re- 
ceive Jesus as Savior and Lord, and under 
His leadership more fully manifest that 
righteousness which "exalteth a nation!" 

M. C. Harris. 



CONTENTS 

Chapter Page 

I. The Country, - 7 

II. People, - 12 

III. Religions, - - - - 22 

IV. Christianity of the Sixteenth 

Century, - 28 

V. Present Day Christianity, - 33 

VI. Methodist Episcopal Church 

in Japan, - 44 

VII. The Methodist Church of 

Japan, - - - - 66 

VIII. The Christian Outlook, - 78 



Christianity In Japan 



CHAPTER I. 

The Country, 

Geography. 
Japan is a collective title for all the ter- 
ritory exclusive of Formosa and Saghalien. 
These islands which compose the Empire 
are situated between 2i°-48' and 50°-36' 
north latitude, and ii9°-2o' and i56°-32' 
E. longtitude. The total area is 27,061.93 
square ri, or 161,000 square miles, or a 
little larger than the State of California. 

Mountains and Volcanoes. 
All the islands are of volcanic origin and 
very mountainous. Two great chains of 
mountains — one from Saghalien, and one 
from China via Formosa — meeting in Cen- 
tral Japan, have produced great upheavals 
7 



8 Christianity in Japan. 

known as the "J a P anese Alps/' Many of 
these peaks are well-known, such as Fuji, 
Asama, etc. There are over 200 volcanoes, 
fifty of which are active most of the time. 
One of these — Aso in Kiushiu — has a crater 
fifteen miles from north to south and ten 
miles in width. This is perhaps the largest 
crater in the world, and is active. 

One compensation for these volcanoes is 
the large number of hot, medicinal springs. 
There are at least one hundred of these of 
high curative qualities and very extensively 
used by the people, who for ages past have 
highly valued their medicinal qualities. 

There are many lakes, some of which are 
very large and extremely beautiful ; notably, 
Biwa, Hakone, and Chuzenji. The great 
"Inland Sea/' world-renowned, contains 
1,325 square miles. It communicates with 
the outer sea by four straits, very narrow, 
making it secure against hostile invasion. 

The coast is well indented, and there are 
many harbors on the east coast. The pro- 
portion of coast line to surface area is as 
1 to 3. The total coast line is 14,912 miles. 

Earthquakes are of very frequent occur- 
rence and are felt in all parts of the country. 



The Country. 9 

For the period of thirteen years ending 1897 
there were 17,750 recorded earthquakes, the 
average being three and one-half daily, 
When seismic disturbances are scarce there 
is danger of a destructive one. More dis- 
astrous to life and property are the great 
typhoons which occur from June to Octo- 
ber. In 1902, for example, the losses were 
as follows: Human lives, 3,639; ships, 
3,244; buildings, 695,000; bridges, 13,685; 
total damage, $15,000,000. 

The habitual aspect of nature is peaceful, 
genial, and friendly, but rudely interrupted 
at times and startlingly destructive. 

Flora and Fauna. 
Naturally Japan stands first among all 
countries for variety of scenery, climate, 
and indigenous products. In this land, the 
botanists teach us, there is a richer variety 
of trees, plants, and flowers than in any 
other known land. The copious rainfall, 
variety of climate, and diversified surface 
account for Japan's superiority in this re- 
gard. The cedar, maple, oak, lacquer, cam- 
phor, camellia, plum, peach, cherry, and 
bamboo exist in abundance. 



10 Christianity in Japan. 

Fish and ail marine life is abundant and 
varied, furnishing in part subsistence to 
many millions of people. Birds are numer- 
ous, and some of them sweet singers, as 
the "uguisu," called the Japanese nightin- 
gale. The badger, monkey, bear, deer, fox, 
hare, cat, chicken, dog, horse, rat, and 
weasel are numerous. Sheep and goats can 
not live in the country, the grasses being- 
coarse and destructive to them. 

The soil of the country is not rich, save 
in some places, yet is so highly cultivated 
that, though only two-fifths are under culti- 
vation, the great population is well sup- 
ported. Japanese farmers are unsurpassed 
in their skill and general intelligence. Until 
lately the people lived largely on vegetables, 
cereals, and fish; but at present the con- 
sumption of meat has greatly increased, 
so that it will, in a short time, be necessary 
for Japan to obtain supplies of food from 
other countries. The change from an agri- 
cultural to an industrial condition, rapidly 
taking place, also threatens to reduce the 
food supply. 

The Empire being insular and at a safe 
distance from the main continents is easily 



The Country. 11 

defended, and therefore fortunate in its 
position. In all past history only one at- 
tempt was made to invade Japan — that was 
by Genghis Khan in the twelfth century. 
It was attended with the entire destruction 
of his fleet and army. 



CHAPTER II. 
The People of Japan. 

The origin of the Japanese people is still 
a moot question. The so-called aborigines 
are known as the *Ainos; but research 
shows that they themselves were immi- 
grants. In pre-historic Japan these earlier 
inhabitants of Japan seem to have spread 
nearly all over the Empire, but in modern 
times their number is limited to about 
10,000. They live in the extreme north of 
the Island of Hokkaido and the southern 
part of Saghalien. 

Japan was peopled from the mainland and 
through the peninsula of Korea, and this 
stream of immigration was composed of 
Koreans, Chinese, Mongolians, and Man- 
chus, which races bear, in general, common 
characteristics. Through Korea they 
crossed the straits into Southwestern Japan 



*The popular term is "Aino," the correct name being 
"Ainu." 

12 



The People of Japan. 13 

and spread over the main islands of Nippon, 
gradually driving out the Ainos to the 
north and overcoming them. In this their 
history is very much like that of the white 
races in the United States, pushing back 
the Indian tribes and possessing their lands. 
Also streams of immigration came into 
the southernmost island of Japan, Kiushu. 
This element was largely Malay. These 
races, entering Japan in pre-historic times, 
have become fused together, and now con- 
stitute perhaps the most homogeneous race- 
family to be found in the world. There are 
observable among the Japanese various 
race types, and yet their main characteristics 
have become one. Nature has conquered 
and fixed her stamp forever upon all of 
these various peoples and molded them into 
one. Visiting Japan and looking upon the 
people and studying them, one is impressed 
w T ith the fact that they partake of the char- 
acteristics of the country, of the soil, and 
of its air — everything. They are essentially 
one with nature. The physical characteris- 
tics of the Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese 
very closely resemble each other; so that, 
when dressed alike, it is almost impossible 



14 Christianity in Japan. 

to distinguish their nationality. The dark 
races of North America, Central and South 
America, doubtless belong to the same gen- 
eral family as the Japanese and Chinese. 
It is not easy to offer direct proof in history ; 
but there can be no doubt that the races 
of North and South America came over 
from China and Japan, some carried directly 
across in junks, others coasting along the 
Kurile Islands and Alaska, and, finally 
reaching the mainland, gradually spread 
over the continent. The resemblance of the 
Indians of North America and Mexico to 
the Japanese and Chinese, if dressed in 
"foreign" or American life, is so marked 
as to lead the natives to address them in 
the Indian tongue. 

While the Japanese, the Koreans, and the 
Chinese, these three races, are externally so 
marked in their resemblance as to be prac- 
tically one people, yet in their nervous or- 
ganization, and also their mental charac- 
teristics, there are very marked differences. 
The Japanese is peculiar in his organization. 
He is highly nervous and is very quick in 
movement ; the race is said to be the quickest 
of known peoples in their mental and 



The People of Japan, IS 

physical movements and operations. The 
Chinaman or the Korean resembles more 
the phlegmatic Englishman or German, 
while the Japanese may be compared to the 
vivacious and demonstrative Frenchman. 

As to the mental powers of the peoples, 
while they differ very much, yet perhaps, 
all in all, they are of about the same rank. 
The Japanese are regarded as an imitative 
people. Indeed, this character of imitative- 
ness has been attributed to the inhabitants 
of Eastern Asia, and the possession of 
original power has been denied; but this is 
contrary to the facts of history. The 
Chinese in their civilization are unique and 
original. Their literature and art are 
original, as well as their inventions. The 
Koreans in past history have distinguished 
themselves in letters and also in art. Japan, 
while deriving her civilization from Korea 
and China, and receiving also much from 
India through China and Korea, yet has 
exhibited remarkable inherent power, has 
taken these elements of civilization, and has 
put upon them her own stamp. In the 
assimilation of Western civilization, the 
Japanese have also demonstrated the pos- 



16 Christianity in Japan, 

session of a high degree of primitive force 
of mind, They have not only made West- 
ern civilization their own, but, taking these 
new materials, they have made use of them 
in a distinctly original way. For instance, 
in the war with Russia, Japan, while avail- 
ing herself of all the advantages of military 
science as developed in the West, made her 
own contributions — the army rifle and the 
Shimosa powder — two of her notable inven- 
tions that bear the stamp of originality. 
One reason why these peoples — the Japa- 
nese and the Far Eastern people — are 
regarded simply as imitative, is because for 
many hundreds of years they have appeared 
to be stationary, no very notable new forces 
in art or literature, or in philosophy, having 
appeared. It is true that they had become 
conventional and slaves to prescribed forms ; 
but manifestly, not because of the inherent 
lack of primal force. 

The people, speaking of them as a race, 
appear to us to be very small. They are 
called "the little brown people." But this 
is more in appearance than in fact. The 
Japanese, as respects their torso, and the 
length, size and weight of the body, are but 



The People of Japan. 17 

little smaller than the European races. The 
great difference appears in the length of 
the leg. From old, the Japanese have been 
a little shorter in stature than the Korean 
and the Chinaman. This is owing to their 
habit of sitting on their feet and cramping 
the legs. The new generation growing up 
is taller than the preceding one, because the 
children all attend school, occupy seats or 
forms, and conform more to our customs. 

The Japanese are also a healthy race. 
You will find that within the last generation 
there has been a marked improvement 
brought about in the health and vigor of 
the people. This is owing, in part, to im- 
provement in food; that is, the use of a 
greater variety of food, especially the eating 
of more meat, but more especially is due 
to the improved sanitary conditions. The 
Japanese were always an innately clean 
people, but being ignorant under the old 
regime of sanitary science, they suffered a 
great deal thereby. For example, while 
smallpox was nearly always prevalent, and 
every Japanese expected to have smallpox, 
as it was unavoidable, yet it has been now 
largely stamped out or brought under con- 



18 Christianity in Japan. 

troL The scientific application of up-to- 
date sanitary laws to the whole population 
has produced a marked improvement in 
health and physical vigor, and has raised 
the average of life many years. Physically 
and mentally they are a youthful race. 
There are no evidences of their being out- 
worn and effete. 

Language. 
The spoken language of the Japanese is 
also original. The only language that bears 
a close resemblance to it is the Korean. 
These two, in structure, are very much 
alike. To the Western student of the 
language, the chief difficulty arises from 
the structure. The accent, while not easy, 
yet can be mastered ; but the construction 
of sentences is so difficult and complicated 
that very few Western people over thirty 
years of age can ever hope to acquire it 
so as to use it effectively. The written 
language is very different from the spoken. 
Over a thousand years ago the Chinese 
language and literature were introduced in 
a body into Japan, and during all this time 
they have made use of what is known as 



The People of Japan. 19 

the Chinese character, or ideograph. The 
Japanese also, at an early day after the 
introduction of Chinese literature, orig- 
inated a syllabary of their own, in which 
there are forty-four characters, and with 
these, and by means of accents, they can 
express seventy-two distinct phonetic 
sounds. These syllables are represented by 
little simplified Chinese characters, known 
as "kana." The "kana" writing is familiar 
to nearly all the people. All their poetry 
is written in this same "kana," making no 
use of the Chinese ideograph ; but all their 
other literature is expressed by the Chinese 
written characters. In order to read the 
newspapers and ordinary books, it is neces- 
sary to be familiar with at least three thou- 
sand of the most familiar characters. It 
requires a great deal of labor to thoroughly 
memorize and possess these, but once ac- 
quired, they are not easily forgotten; and 
though this is a very difficult work, as 
compared with learning our alphabet, yet 
w r hen we compare it with our arbitrary 
method of spelling, the difference is not so 
great in the amount of labor involved. 
Since the introduction of Western ideas, 



20 Christianity in Japan. 

the language has undergone a very great 
change. We may say it has been West- 
ernized, and practically a new language 
created. The old language was the ex- 
ponent of the old Oriental civilization, but 
it was almost useless as an instrument for 
teaching modern science and all that is 
characteristic of our civilization. New 
w r ords and new terms have been created 
to express the thoughts and ideas of the 
present time ; and yet Japan has been com- 
pelled to make a very large use of the 
English language, also of German and 
French; and we may say the English 
language has, in a sense, been adopted by 
the nation. It is being taught now exten- 
sively in the schools, and utilized more and 
more, especially in the world of business 
and commerce, as well as in the world of 
science. Japan, of course, will never give 
up her own tongue. Her literature, and 
her history in the past, are imbedded and 
enshrined in that language and must be 
preserved. Many attempts have been made 
by the people to get rid of the Chinese 
character, and substitute for it the simple 
Roman alphabet ; but in doing so, seemingly 



The People of Japan. 21 

insuperable obstacles have been encoun- 
tered. Some day this reform will be 
brought about, but at present the tendency 
is all in the direction of the larger use of 
the Chinese ideograph, and, perhaps, the 
nation will use it more extensively in the 
future than in the past. It is to be remem- 
bered that at least five hundred million 
people, Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans, 
make use of the same letters. The charac- 
ters of course have the same meaning, only 
they are arranged in sentences in a different 
manner, according to the laws of syntax 
of the respective languages. 



CHAPTER III. 
The Religions of Japan. 

Shinto, or "Way of the Gods," is the 
primitive religion of Japan. This is a pure 
system of nature worship. All the objects 
of nature, great and small, are deified 
and worshiped. Shinto is characterized by 
great simplicity. The temples are built of 
wood; they are perfectly free from any 
varnish or paint, and the characteristic sym- 
bol of the temple is the metal mirror and 
pendant strips of white rice-paper. As a 
religion, Shinto is peculiar in this — that it 
is without an ethical code. The teachers 
give this reason : "The Japanese people are 
descendants of pure men; they are born 
into the world with good hearts, and all 
that is required of Japanese is to imitate 
the virtues of their ancestors ; written codes 
of morals may be necessary for other peo- 
ples, but Japan can well dispense with 
them." Shinto largely consists in reveren- 

22 



The Religions of Japan. 23 

tial feeling for ancestors. To the Japanese 
mind the dead are all alive; they exist; 
there is a spirit world. The Japanese know 
the body dies, of course, but they believe 
in the immortality of souls; at least, it is 
the popular conception that all the Japanese 
from the beginning until now are still alive, 
and that they are all one people. The dead 
are still living in Japan in their spiritual 
state and a part of the people. Shinto at 
the present is not looked upon by many as 
a religion proper, but it is more of a state 
ceremony; and, in a way, they believe that 
a man may be a Shintoist, and, in this, not 
conflict with Christianity or Buddhism. 

In the sixth century, A. D., Buddhism 
entered Japan from Korea. The Korean 
Buddhist teachers were received by the 
court, and were listened to with favor. The 
speedy introduction of Buddhism into Japan 
and its adoption by the people are largely 
explained by this fact — that at the beginning 
it had the approval of the court, and the 
first converts of Buddhism were among the 
noble families. Buddhism adapted its teach- 
ings to the Japanese mind, recognized the 
Shinto gods, and included them in the list 



24 Christianity in Japan, 

of Buddhas that should be worshiped. In 
contrast with Shinto, Buddhism was a much 
more highly developed religion. It had a 
code of morals, its ethics being of a high 
order, and also its ritual, being very warm 
and rich in color, appealed to the imagina- 
tion of the people. Again, the humanity 
of Buddhism, asserting the sacredness of 
life and the universal sympathy with suffer- 
ing, strongly appealed to the people. In 
every way, Buddhism, as a religion, was 
so far in advance of Shinto that on its 
entrance it was only a question of time 
when the people would gladly accept it, 
especially as Buddhism made no attacks 
on the Shinto faith, but practically entered 
into a union with it ; so to this day in Japan 
the people are both Shinto and Buddhist. 
They will pass from a Buddhist into a 
Shinto temple and worship; and, to their 
mind, there is no antagonism. For a thou- 
sand years, at least, Buddhism has been the 
religion of the Japanese people, and it has 
had a very great effect upon all classes. 
To speak of this very directly and simply, 
its influence appears in the way of making 
the Japanese gentle and sensitive to suffer- 



The Religions of Japan. 25 

ing, sympathetic, kind, unselfish, and pa- 
tient. Buddhism entering into the life of 
the Japanese people has what we may call 
the passive virtues, as Buddhism, especially 
in comparison with Christianity, is a 
passive religion. It teaches people to ac- 
cept their lot in life with resignation, to 
bear all its ills patiently, believing that the 
organized existence of the world itself 
comes out of evil, and that salvation must 
be attained in another life through perfect 
delivery from the body and from the rule 
of all the passions and appetites. 

To sum it all up, while the masses of 
the people in Japan are Buddhists to-day, 
yet this does not render them antagonistic 
to Christianity. Buddhism also has under- 
gone a change in recent years with the in- 
troduction of Western civilization; owing 
to this and the Christian faith the Buddhist 
faith has undergone a revival. Many re- 
forms have taken place in the Buddhist 
world. The Buddhists have opened col- 
leges and universities, and, adapting them- 
selves to the new order and new condition 
of things, have sent a great number of their 
picked young men to Great Britain and 



26 Christianity in Japan. 

Europe, also to India, for the study of re- 
ligion. These men have returned to Japan 
and have introduced many changes. They 
are very progressive, and, what is more, 
the new Buddhism of Japan — the revived 
and reformed Buddhism — has practically 
adopted all of the modern methods of 
Christianity used in the propagation of the 
Christian faith. For instance, orphanages, 
hospitals, schools, etc., conducted in a mod- 
ern way; something entirely new in the 
history of this faith. The effect of the re- 
vived Buddhism is to bring Buddhism and 
Christianity nearer together, and it is a 
matter of great rejoicing, now, that there 
is a good understanding and friendly rela- 
tions existing between the Buddhist and 
Christian faiths; and while each one con- 
ducts its operations separately, yet there is 
very little antagonism. 

Now a word as to Confucianism. With 
the introduction of Chinese literature and 
Chinese civilization into Japan, of course 
Confucianism came. The doctrine of Con- 
fucius never became very well known and 
familiar to the masses of the people. The 
educated classes accepted the teachings of 



The Religions of Japan. 27 

the Master and Mencius with a great deal 
of enthusiasm, and for over a thousand 
years these teachings have obtained, and 
ruled thought in the educated world, The 
teachings of Confucius were the basis of 
legal ethics in old Japan ; but since the new 
order in 1868, marking the political revolu- 
tion and the ascension to the throne of the 
present Emperor, the doctrine of Confu- 
cianism has constantly waned; and, while 
the old cult and teachings have entered 
into the permanent possession of the Japa- 
nese people, yet all the Confucian schools 
and characteristic teachings have passed 
away, and so have ceased to dominate their 
minds. Attempts have been made to revive 
Confucianism, but without avail, and there 
seems to be no likelihood in the coming 
days of its revival. Of course the Japanese 
will study and make a certain use of it, but 
it will not, in all probability, occupy a com- 
manding place. 

"Beshido," or the "Way of the Knight," 
had for its principles the Confucian teach- 
ing. The fundamental truths which it con- 
tains will survive and bear good fruit. 



CHAPTER IV. 
Christianity of the Sixteenth Century, 

Francis Xavier was the first Christian 
apostle to Japan. He arrived in Southern 
Japan in the year 1549, and, by the assist- 
ance of a Japanese interpreter who accom- 
panied him, was able to begin preaching 
almost directly to the people. Parts of the 
Gospels were put into the spoken language. 
These were read before the people very im- 
pressively, with the result that converts were 
obtained at the very beginning. He gradually 
made his way north as far as Kyoto, the 
old capital of the Empire. In due time he 
was reinforced by missionaries, who, fol- 
lowing his example, took up very earnestly 
the work of propagating the faith. The 
people in most places gave them warm wel- 
come, and listened with the deepest interest 
to the story of Christianity. Here and there 
opposition was aroused by the attacks of 
Xavier and his missionaries on Buddhism. 
28 



Sixteenth Century Christianity, 29 

But the missions prospered and the con- 
verts multiplied, until in a comparatively 
short time they numbered hundreds of thou- 
sands, and among them were many Daimios, 
leaders among the people. All went well 
until the doubts of the Japanese government 
were aroused by information which they 
obtained from the Vatican, that these priests 
were seeking the conquest of Japan, and 
that the Pope at Rome claimed rule over 
the whole world as the Vicar of Christ; 
hence if Japan should become Christianized 
the Emperor of Japan would be subordinate 
to the Pope. The result of all this was that 
Christianity was sternly forbidden, the 
priests were banished from Japan, and the 
Christians were required to abjure their 
faith on pain of death. 

This persecution, beginning in the six- 
teenth century, lasted for over two hundred 
and fifty years, and did not cease until the 
year 1872. At this time representations 
were made to the Japanese government by 
the British and American ministers con- 
cerning the persecution of Christians, and 
the edicts against Christianity. As a result 
of these representations, the old edicts which 



30 Christianity in Japan. 

had been posted in public places, strictly 
forbidding the Japanese to have anything to 
do with Christianity on pain of death, were 
removed, and this really ended the era of 
persecution — the longest recorded in his- 
tory. 

The Japanese authorities were greatly 
surprised to find that there were some 
10,000 descendants of the old Christians 
still in existence. These were living in 
South Japan, on certain islands, in great 
poverty, and had been subjected to many 
hardships. However, the Japanese govern- 
ment granted them their entire liberty, and 
they were freed from all disabilities. 

Already at this time the French priests 
had arrived in Japan and opened missions 
in several places. Thus, through the French 
missionaries, communication was opened 
with these old survivors of the Catholic 
Christians. At first the priests were re- 
ceived with distrust, because the Carmelite 
and Augustine fathers had worn a different 
dress, their clothing consisting of yellow or 
white garments, while the French priests 
wore the black cassocks. However, in time 
their suspicions and doubts were removed ; 



Sixteenth Century Christianity. 31 

these Catholic Christians were received and 
recognized as such, and organized into 
parishes, and in their behalf two cathedrals 
have been built in the city of Nagasaki, 
which is the center of the Catholic popula- 
tion of the Empire. Perhaps the persist- 
ence through nine generations of the faith, 
handed down from father to son, from 
family to family, is one of the most re- 
markable occurrences in the annals of the 
Christian faith. Apparently, every cross, 
every symbol of the Catholic Christian faith 
had been destroyed. Here and there, how- 
ever, a few crosses that had been hidden 
away were preserved. The banished fa- 
thers, before their departure from the coun- 
try, left some prayers of absolution and 
directions for the guidance of the Chris- 
tians, and these were remembered and 
followed most loyally. Again and again 
these Christians were compelled in public 
to perform the ceremony of trampling upon 
the cross and denying their faith ; but after- 
ward the family would come together, recite 
the prayer of absolution, and continue the 
practice of their religion as they conceived 
it. These Catholic Christians were all of 



32 Christianity in Japan. 

the peasant class, and their notions were 
somewhat crude ; yet they had the true faith 
of Christians, a*nd were beautiful in their 
spirit, pure in their conduct. They consti- 
tute the real foundation of the Roman 
Catholic Church, and from the ranks of 
their descendants there are now many 
priests and sisters being trained in the 
schools. 



CHAPTER V. 
Present Day Christianity in Japan. 

In the year 1855 non-Catholic Chris- 
tianity entered Japan for the first time. Its 
representatives were J. C. Hepburn, M. D., 
and wife, Dr. Simmons and wife, the Rev- 
erend G. F. Verbeck and wife, and the 
Reverend S. R. Brown and wife, all of the 
German Reformed and Presbyterian 
Churches of America ; and the Reverend C. 
M. Williams, of the American Protestant 
Episcopal Church. Some years after they 
were joined by Reverend James Ballagh and 
wife. Though these missionaries were en- 
titled to residence at the open ports for 
foreigners, yet they were not permitted to 
preach the Gospel publicly until the year 
1S72. [The old edicts against the Chris- 
tian faith stood, and it was in that year, by 
the representation of the ambassadors of 
foreign governments, that the Japanese 
government consented to the removal of 

3 33 



34 Christianity in Japan. 

these edicts against Christianity ; though no 
formal permission was given to the mis- 
sionaries to propagate their faith, yet it was 
understood that they were at liberty to do 
so.] Thus it was in the year 1872, in 
Yokohama, Japan, that the first Christian 
converts were baptized. These consisted 
of about a dozen young men, all of the stu- 
dent class, who had come to Yokohama to 
study English and Western civilization at 
the hands of the missionaries. One or two 
men had been baptized by Dr. Verbeck in 
Nagasaki some years before this, but this 
was really something of a secret baptism, 
so that the baptism in public of this class 
of young men in Yokohama in 1872 defi- 
nitely marked the opening of Christian 
work in the Empire. Up to this time 
the entire force of Protestant mission- 
aries in the Empire was very small, in- 
deed; but, it being understood that Japan 
was now open, all the great English 
and American leading evangelical Churches 
founded missions in the Empire. At this 
time the feeling of the Japanese towards 
Christianity was one of great fear and 
distrust. In many parts of the interior 



Present Day Christianity in Japan. 35 

it was therefore impossible to do any public 
work. But after the expiration of perhaps 
ten years the old prejudices largely disap- 
peared, and there was a very great interest 
among all, and especially among the middle 
classes, in the subject of Christianity. At 
this time the missionaries had familiarized 
themselves with the language, the New 
Testament had been translated into the 
Japanese tongue, some classes had been 
opened for the training of young men and 
women, and henceforth the new religion 
made rapid strides. 

The history of the introduction of Pro- 
testant Christianity into Japan is a very 
remarkable one, but space can be given only 
to the results of one generation of Christian 
propagandism in the Empire. The baptized 
Protestant Christians of Japan to-day num- 
ber about 60,000. The chief Churches are, 
first, the Presbyterian Church, known as 
the Church of Christ of Japan; the Con- 
gregational Church; the Methodist Epis- 
copal and Baptist Churches. The Prot- 
estant Episcopal Church and Church of 
England constitute one Church in Japan, 
known as the Holy Catholic Church. 



36 Christianity in Japan. 

These five Churches embrace nearly all 
of the Protestant Christians. Now prac- 
tically all of these Churches have be- 
come national ; that is, they are independent 
national organizations ecclesiastically, sepa- 
rate from the Mother Churches, though in 
every case the Mother Churches co-operate 
with the respective bodies in Japan, and will 
continue to do so until they become strong 
enough to care for themselves. In the 
meantime Christian institutions, colleges, 
seminaries, and schools of the middle and 
even college grade, have been established 
for young men and young women, and the 
Christian education of these classes has 
been the most efficient means in Christian- 
izing the people. 

As a mission field, Japan is different from 
all other fields in this: Her educated 
classes, especially the students, are the most 
accessible to Christian influences, and 
nearly all of the leaders in the new Church 
of Christ were converted in the mission- 
schools and trained there. All Churches 
having missionaries which ignore educa- 
tion in schools as a field for service, will 
have comparatively failed in their work. 



Present Day Christianity in Japan. 37 

Christian schools occupy in the Empire a 
very satisfactory position. The advantages 
of these schools being recognized, their stu- 
dents suffer no disability whatever as com- 
pared with the students in government 
schools, and they are very popular. All 
of them are quite full, and every opening 
term large numbers are necessarily refused 
admittance. 

As respects the position of the Christian 
Church in Japan, it is, comparatively, very 
influential, containing, as it does, so many 
cultured men and women, educated at home 
and abroad, and of good social position in 
the various callings ; and the Christians are, 
in many instances, very prominent and oc- 
cupy leading positions. In former years 
there were many bars to the advancement 
of Christians in civil life, but these have 
practically disappeared, and in some depart- 
ments a man known to be a Christian will 
be entitled to special confidence and con- 
sideration. 

The results of the war with Russia had 
a profound influence upon the fortunes of 
Christianity. All the opposition that ex- 
isted in the army and navy and civil life 



38 Christianity in Japan. 

up to the beginning of that war, entirely 
disappeared before the conclusion of the 
conflict, and this for a variety of reasons. 
First, the universal sympathy of the Chris- 
tians of Great Britain and America with 
Japan in her struggle. The missionary 
bodies in the Far East were unanimously 
with Japan and strongly supported her in 
the conflict; also the public opinion in favor 
of Japan, and the work of the Young Men's 
Christian Association for the soldiers in 
Manchuria and Korea. This last produced 
a tremendous effect. It was finally no- 
ticed by the Court, and the Emperor 
made a donation of $5,000 in aid of 
the Young Men's Christian Association 
Department of the army. Also, he 
made notable gifts to the Okayama Or- 
phanage and to other Christian charities. 
Of course this had a profound influence 
upon the nation, being a public demonstra- 
tion of the friendship of the Court for the 
new faith. So that now, universally in 
Japan, there is no opposition to Christianity ; 
but, on the other hand, there is a new in- 
terest manifested in the study of the Chris- 
tian faith, and the churches, chapels, and 



Present Day Christianity in Japan. 39 

schools are very well attended. There is 
an increasing inquiry, and converts are 
growing rapidly in numbers. There is, also, 
a vast demand for Bibles in the Japanese 
language, and, as many Japanese read Eng- 
lish, a large number of English Bibles are 
sold. All Christian literature that is 
worthy, books that are well written and in- 
terpret Christianity, have a good sale ; and, 
especially, the Buddhist leaders and teach- 
ers give a great deal of attention to the 
study of Christian books in the Japanese and 
other languages. It is no exaggeration to 
say that Japan, in relation to Christianity, 
is in a very receptive mood ; and, indeed, 
in a very profound sense, Japan has become 
Christian. We mean by this, that the essen- 
tial teachings of Christ and His character 
appeal directly, powerfully, and irresistibly 
to the Japanese conscience and heart. 
There are many reasons for this. Chris- 
tianity brings new and creative ideals, 
higher ethical and spiritual standards, and 
her new and quickening hopes fit the condi- 
tions of the new life of this land. To Japan, 
all alive and growing, the spirit of progress 
everywhere dominant, the positive, aggres- 



40 Christianity in Japan. 

sive, and creative faith of Christianity is 
very congenial, and meets her needs in an 
extraordinary way. Therefore it is not an 
exaggeration to say that Japan is rapidly- 
accepting the Christian faith. In so far 
as the open confession of Christ and the 
number of baptisms is concerned, the 
growth in numbers is not so extraordinary, 
though it is a very healthful growth; but 
Christian ideas and standards have spread 
extensively throughout the Empire, and in 
a significant sense they inspire and dom- 
inate the new life of the nation. 

The Roman Catholic Church in Japan 
numbers about 60,000 members. The Cath- 
olic converts are largely from the masses 
of the people, and, indeed, from many of 
the humbler classes. In the way of educa- 
tion, the Catholic Church of Japan is not 
doing nearly as much as the Protestant 
Churches, especially for advanced educa- 
tion. The missionaries have created many 
orphanages and schools for poor children, 
and through their Sisterhoods labor ef- 
ficiently for the incurable and sick — a 
service of mercy ; and they carry on, indeed, 
a far-reaching and beautiful work. But 



Present Day Christianity in Japan. 41 

the Roman Church for years past has not 
made much headway in Japan, in spite of 
much zealous and faithful labor. 

Remarkable, indeed phenomenal, in Japan 
is the Greek Catholic Church. In 1865, 
Priest Nicolai came to Japan as a chap- 
lain to the Russian Legation. Not ex- 
pecting to become a missionary, he took 
up the study of the Japanese language and 
literature, and after acquiring these, began 
to teach Christianity to the Japanese in con- 
nection with the Legation. So when the 
country was opened to Christianity, he was 
able at once to propagate the faith, and 
succeeded in creating a following, or a 
Church, with about 30,000 members scat- 
tered over the Empire of Japan. It was 
nearly all the work of this one man. He 
has been about forty years in this ministry, 
is still very vigorous, and presides over this 
large body of believers, trains the teachers, 
and administers the affairs of the Church. 
During the war he remained shut up in 
the Cathedral House in the City of Tokyo, 
where he continued his work in a private 
way — the translation of the Bible and the 
preparation of literature for his people — 



42 Christianity in Japan. 

but, of course, did not appear in the sanctu- 
ary and conduct mass. The Greek Catholics 
of Japan are in some respects more progres- 
sive than the Roman Catholics, as they have 
helped in the circulation of the Bible very 
extensively, and also of general Christian 
literature. What the fate, however, of this 
Church will be, is a question. Many think 
that after the death of the great bishop his 
following will discontinue their organization 
and largely go into the Protestant Churches. 
The total of the Christian communities 
in Japan is quite large, when we remember 
that it is only the work of the last thirty- 
five years; and the future of Christianity 
in Japan promises to be a very interesting 
one. There is no question that the nation 
as such will accept the Christian faith. 
There will be no war between Christianity 
and Buddhism. This is foreign to the spirit 
of the people. They believe that religion 
is good and sacred, and that they should 
live in harmony with each other; that con- 
flicts are unnecessary and in a sense dis- 
graceful; and so far as Christianity and 
Buddhism is concerned they would say, 
"Let the fittest survive." That Christianity 



Present Day Christianity in Japan. 43 

will achieve greater and greater conquests 
among the people, and, at a period not far 
distant, become the dominant religion of 
the Empire, is beyond doubt. This which 
the vision of Faith discerns, is also written 
in the "signs of the times." 



CHAPTER VI. 
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Japan. 

The General Missionary Committee at 
its session in New York, November, 1872, 
authorized the opening of a mission in 
Japan. The Rev. R. S. Maclav, Superin- 
tendent of the Foochow Mission, was the 
first man appointed, and he was made super- 
intendent. The Rev. J. C. Davison, of the 
Newark Conference, and the Rev. Julius 
Soper, of the Baltimore Conference, both 
graduates of Drew Seminary, were next 
chosen. In March, 1873, the Rev. M. C. 
Harris, of Pittsburg Conference, was ap- 
pointed. Dr. Maclay and family arrived 
in Yokohama June 11, 1873, i n company 
with Dr. and Mrs. Newman, who greatly 
aided in maturing plans for the new mis- 
sion. On July 9th, Bishop W. L. Harris, 
accompanied by Rev. Dr. Waugh and W. 
A. Spencer., landed in Yokohama. 

44 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 45 

On August 8th the mission was formally 
organized by Bishop Harris at No. 60 
Bluff, Yokohama, the rented home of Dr. 
Maclay. There were present Dr. Maclay, 
Revs. Davison, Soper, Correll, and their 
wives, also Drs. Newman, Waugh, Spencer, 
and Houghton, of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church; the Rev. George Cc:hran and Dr. 
McDonald (M. D.), of the Canada Meth- 
odist Mission in Japan. 

Bishop Harris presided ; Rev. J. C. Davi- 
son was chosen secretary. The Mission met 
the next day, observed the Holy Com- 
munion, and the Bishop made the following 
appointments: Yokohama, R. S. Maclay, 
superintendent, and I. H. Correll, assistant; 
Tokyo, Julius Soper ; Nagasaki, J. C. Davi- 
son; Hakodate, M. C. Harris. After clos- 
ing words by the Bishop, and congratulatory 
addresses by the visitors, the first meeting 
of the Mission adjourned. 

The centers chosen by the Mission at this 
first meeting were the result of much in- 
vestigation and consideration. Yokohama 
was the commercial city of the Empire, and 
here it was deemed wise that the superin- 
tendent and treasurer should reside. Tokyo, 



46 Christianity in Japan. 

being the largest city of the Empire, as 
well as the capital, and better prepared to 
receive Christianity than any other center, 
was the second place selected. The in- 
tention was to occupy Kobe and Osaka, 
but our brethren of the American Board 
had already entered this field, and they sug- 
gested that we take instead Kiushiu, agree- 
ing to leave South and North Japan to other 
Missions. This agreement was observed 
faithfully by them until the growth of their 
Churches and the wishes of the native Chris- 
tians influenced them to abandon the com- 
pact. Hakodate was the chief and only 
open port north of Tokyo, and, as at that 
time there were no Protestant Missions 
north of the capital, this city was chosen. 
The expectation was that the Board would 
send heavy reinforcements at once. In this, 
however, some disappointment followed. 
The first reinforcements that came arrived 
in 1878, being the Rev. W. C. Davisson 
and wife. No blame should be placed upon 
the Board of Missions; for the financial 
depression was so great that for years it was 
difficult to maintain the status quo of the 
Missions abroad. The points selected were 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 47 

strategic centers, and the wisdom of the 
plan then adopted has been demonstrated. 

From the above centers the Churches 
have developed in all directions in a normal 
way, until the whole Empire, from north 
to south on the eastern side, is interlaced 
with our Methodist Missions and schools. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
planted their Mission in the cities of Kobe, 
Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and on the In- 
land Sea. Now the "Methodist Church of 
Japan" extends from the Hokkaido in the 
north to the Loo Choo Islands of the south 
— more than 2,500 miles — one unbroken 
chain of Churches. 

The stations w r ere all occupied during the 
first year. The missionaries gave them- 
selves to the study of the language with 
perfect abandon, it being their supreme de- 
sire to get hold of the only instrument for 
the gospelizing of the nation. The time 
chosen for this great mission to Japan was 
auspicious. In the year 1872 the old edicts 
had been removed. For two hundred years 
the Christian religion had been sternly for- 
bidden. The million of Catholic believers 
which had been gathered at the opening of 



48 Christianity in Japan. 

the seventeenth century had been annihi- 
lated, and the persecution had continued 
until the year 1872 without pause. The 
missionaries who had resided in Japan since 
1859 were unable to proceed with public 
work. Our Mission came not too early 
nor too late. Hence there was no weary 
night of waiting. 

The first annual meeting held in the home 
of Dr. Maclay in Yokohama was most op- 
timistic. The reports from each field, 
though brief, were all in the superlative de- 
gree. True, no baptisms had occurred, but 
Bible classes had been formed, and many 
inquirers were enrolled. In Hakodate 
large and beautifully situated premises had 
been secured and a residence erected. In 
Tokyo two fine lots had been purchased. 
In Nagasaki an eligible residence was 
bought and occupied in September of 1873. 
The next year property was purchased in 
Yokohama. 

First Fruits. 

The rite of baptism first took place in 
Yokohama, October 4, 1874. Rev. I. H. 
Correll there baptized a man and his wife. 
In Tokyo, January 5, 1875, Rev. Julius 



The M. E, Church in Japan. 49 

Soper baptized Mr. and Mrs. Sen Tsuda, 
now the oldest living converts in the 
Methodist Church. In the same year bap- 
tisms occurred in Hakodate and Nagasaki. 

Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. 
The year 1874 was memorable as mark- 
ing the arrival of Miss Dora Schoonmaker, 
the first missionary of the Woman's For- 
eign Missionary Society. Two weeks af- 
terward she opened a day school in 
Tokyo. This beginning was soon fol- 
lowed by the erection of a boarding 
school in the Foreign Concession of the 
city, which was the pioneer school for girls 
and young women in our Church, and was 
destined soon to be followed by others. 
Kwassui ("Living Waters"), of Nagasaki, 
is next in order, being opened by Misses 
Russell and Gheer in 1878. The Caroline 
Wright Seminary, in Hakodate, comes next, 
opened by Miss Hampton in 1881. The 
Seiryu, in Nagoya, and the Hirosaki branch 
of the Hakodate School, were also estab- 
lished in 1884; the Industrial School at 
Sendai followed the Harrison Industrial 
School in Tokyo, opened in 1890. The school 

4 



50 Christianity in Japan. 

for girls in Fukuoka, Island of Kiushiu, 
was started in 1885 ; also the well-known 
School for Bible Women in Yokohama. If 
to these, day schools of various kinds be 
added, the grand result in figures is 25 
schools and 2,989 pupils, 34 or more 
missionaries, and about 200 native teach- 
ers. It is safe to say that to-day in 
Japan six thousand women are Chris- 
tians through the schools of the society 
and their activities. The grades and va- 
rious objects of these schools, as well as 
the large attendance, are matters of inter- 
est, from the kindergarten, primary, and 
middle school to college grade; and as to 
variety, kindergarten, industrial, Bible- 
training, literary, and scientific schools, as 
well as an institution for the blind; all 
the most successfully conducted; and they 
are the vital centers of evangelistic work, 
of which space forbids report. 

The society entered Japan at the hour of 
the emancipation of woman. Several young 
girls had been sent to America by the gov- 
ernment for study. The Empress had 
become the patroness of the Normal School 
for young women. The Educational De- 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 51 

partment was maturing plans for the train- 
ing of girls for the new era of Meiji. 
Misses Schoonmaker and Whiting in To- 
kyo, Misses Russell and Gheer in Nagasaki, 
and Miss Hampton and her coadjutors in 
Hakodate, took account of the crisis, its 
opportunities and needs, and organized the 
three pioneer schools to meet the demands 
of the hour. The society sustained them, 
royally proud that such an opening had 
come to the women of Japan. Relatively, 
the women of this land were far above their 
sisters of the Orient in the freedom of the 
home and society; they had behind them 
also an ancient record of intellectual vigor 
and literary achievement. With the inspira- 
tion of the new opportunities, there has 
come to them a modern Renaissance, both 
spiritual and mental, which bids fair to 
vivify their comrades in other Eastern 
lands. That the representatives of the 
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society have 
acted well their part in this awakening, is 
cause for profound thanksgiving, and mo- 
tive for more far-reaching endeavor. 



52 Christianity in Japan. 

Organization of ths Annual Confer- 
ence. 

The Mission was launched into existence 
in 1873, and in ten years such had been the 
prosperity enjoyed that by the year 1884 
the Mission was able to organize into an 
Annual Conference. The General Confer- 
ence had granted the enabling act at its ses- 
sion in May, 1884, an d, in accordance with 
this provision, Bishop I. W. Wiley called 
the Mission together in Tokyo, August 
1 8th, and created the Japan Annual Con- 
ference. After devotional exercises in 
Japanese and English, and an appropriate 
address, he transferred the following men 
to the new Conference: Elders — R. S. 
Maclay; E. Aibara; S. Kurimura; B. 
Onuki, from the Baltimore Conference ; J. 
C. Davison; K. Asuga; T. Kikuchi, New- 
ark; M. C. Harris, Pittsburg; I. H. Cor- 
rell; James Blackledge and C. W. Green, 
Philadelphia; Charles Bishop, North In- 
diana; C. S. Eong, Holston; and L. W. 
Squier, North Ohio. 

Deacons as follows: M. S. Vail, T. Ka- 
wamura, S. Matsumoto, K. Kosoka. Pro- 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 53 

bationers: W. C. Kitchin, D. S. Spencer, 
J. O. Spencer, C. Nakayama, Y. Takahara, 
T. Yamada, H. Hirata, H. Yamaka, T. Doi, 
K. Kami jo, K. Nakada, G. Yamada, Y. 
Honda, and S. Hiranuma. 

J. C. Davison and E. Aibara were chosen 
secretaries. The minutes were kept in both 
languages from this Conference until the 
final meeting of the Conference in May, 
1907, at Tokyo (Aoyama). W. C. Kitchin, 
D. S. Spencer, and C. Nakayama were ad- 
mitted into full connection. K. Kosoka, Y. 
Honda, and S. Matsumoto were ordained 
elders. The ladies of the Woman's For- 
eign Missionary Society were present at 
the meeting. Their names are as fol- 
lows: Miss E. Russell, Jennie M. Gheer, 
Gertrude Everding, Gertrude Howe, Mrs. 
Carrie Van Petten, Miss E. J. Benton, 
M. A. Spencer, A. P. Atkinson, R. J. 
Watson, F. N. Hamisfar, E. J. Hewett, and 
M. S. Hampton. 

These ladies, uniting with the wives of 
the missionaries, at this session organized 
the Woman's Conference, Mrs. R. S. 
Maclay being chosen president. This or- 
ganization has met annually since that date 



54 Christianity in Japan. 

at the same time and place as the Annual 
Conference. 

The Church in ten years had made good 
progress, as the statistics given at this ses- 
sion show. Members and probationers, 
1,148; Sunday-school pupils, 1,203. 

This first meeting of the Annual Confer- 
ence was rendered memorable by the action 
it took regarding Korea. Reverend Dr. 
Maclay had the previous year, by request 
of the Board of Missions, visited Korea 
to ascertain if the time were propitious for 
the opening of a mission to that country. 
His report was favorable, and created deep 
interest. The action of the Conference was 
in substance as follows: That we recom- 
mend to the General Committee the opening 
of a Mission at once, to be administered 
separately from the Japan Conference, and 
that two men be sent there in the spring 
of 1885. This request was acted upon by 
the Board, and the Rev. N. P. Appenzeller, 
B. D., and Rev. Wm. B. Scranton, M. D., 
arrived in March of 1885 en route to this 
new field. 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 55 

Silver Anniversary. 

In June, 1898, the Silver Anniversary of 
the founding of the Mission took place in 
the new church at Yokohama on Horai- 
machi. Bishop Earl Cranston presided. 
The General Conference had granted per- 
mission to organize the work in the Island 
of Kiushiu into the South Japan Mission. 
The Conference, after a warm discussion, 
voted in favor of the immediate creation of 
the new Mission. Bishop Cranston assented 
and effected the organization. 

Into this Conference the following mis- 
sionaries were tranf erred: J. C. Davison, 
E. L. Fulkerson, H. B. Johnson, M. S. Vail ; 
also Pastors K. Kawse, K. Kosaka, S. Mat- 
sukuma, S. Matsumoto, C. Nagano, C. Na- 
kayama, T. Otake, M. Sasamori, and Y. 
Tsuda, with four probationers. 

The development of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church during this first twenty- 
five years was very satisfactory. The 
statistics in part, as presented at this 
session, were as follows: Members and 
probationers, 5,177; Japanese ministers, 
Conference probationers, and local preach- 
ers, 105. Dr. Julius Soper preached 



56 Christianity in Japan. 

the annual sermon. Full reports of the 
various departments for the period were 
presented. Inspiring anniversaries were 
held. The fruits of the first Quarter Cen- 
tennial were much larger than was ex- 
pected at the founding of the Mission. Na- 
tive and foreign toilers faced the new 
period with radiant hopes begotten by the 
prosperous period just ended, the generally 
friendly attitude of the nation to Chris- 
tianity, and the growing spirit of progress 
in civilization throughout the Empire. 

Education. 

It was recognized at the founding of the 
Mission that the cause of education must 
receive immediate attention. The youth of 
the nation were literally mad for Western 
science and languages. 

Our first duty was the mastery of the 
language and acquaintance with the country 
itself. This was the serious business in 
hand. Nevertheless, students at every 
point gathered around the missionary and 
asked to be taught. Perforce most of 
them yielded and opened small schools. 
The first to devote himself entirely to 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 57 

educational work was the Rev. John 
Ing, a transfer from the Kiukiang Mis- 
sion, China. He was employed as in- 
structor of the English language and 
science in the Too Gijiku, Hirosaki, and 
began his work January, 1875. This was 
a private school, founded by the Daimio, 
Lord Tsugaru, for the sake of his former 
retainers. Here were gathered about four 
hundred ambitious youth ready for the new 
ideas. The four years devoted to this school 
produced most astounding results. Scores 
of the pupils were converted, and in due 
time a Church was formed. This Church 
has given to Methodism in Japan, all told, 
about seventy preachers, teachers, Bible 
women, and evangelists. In addition, many 
have entered various departments and have 
won national renown. Foremost of these 
we are proud to name Reverend Bishop 
Yoitsu Honda. He is the first Japanese to 
be elevated to the office of Bishop in the 
Christian Church. 

The rich fruits gathered in Hirosaki 
greatly stimulated the Mission to establish 
Christian schools. The Woman's Foreign 
Missionary Society was first in this field; 



58 Christianity in Japan. 

for in 1875 it opened a boarding school for 
girls. 

The Mission in 1876 forwarded a petition 
to the Board recommending the establish- 
ment of a training school at Yokohama. 
The Board, however, was unable to comply 
at once, owing to the financial crisis. This 
caused a delay, but happily, in 1879, news 
was received that the Rev. Dr. Goucher 
was ready to give $10,000 for permanent 
investment to promote some form of Chris- 
tian work. This was heartening news. 
The Mission agreed that it should be ap- 
plied to education. 

The seminary had been opened a year 
before in the new building, and the interest 
on this money was applied to scholarships 
and library. The school opened with twenty 
pupils. 

In the year 1878 an English language 
school was opened in Tokyo by Dr. Soper. 
After a few years it was determined to 
close the school in Yokohama and unite 
with the Eiwa Gakko in Tokyo. This was 
carried out in 1882. Prof. M. S. Vail be- 
came the principal. A fine site, consisting 
of twenty-five acres, was purchased for the 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 59 

schools (now united) in the suburbs of 
Tokyo. The name was finally changed to 
Aoyama Gakuin. The Silver Anniversary 
of this school was celebrated in May, 1907, 
under very happy auspices. The founder. 
Dr. John Goucher, was present and deliv- 
ered an address. He was greeted by hun- 
dreds of students and friends. A banquet 
under the auspices of the Alumnae was held, 
at which many distinguished Japanese and 
foreign guests were present. It was on this 
day also that the new chapel, seating 1,200, 
and the Goucher Hall were consecrated in 
the presence of a vast audience. 

This institution consists of a college and 
academy and a theological school known 
as the Philander Smith Biblical Institute. 
Its buildings were the gift of Mrs. Smith 
and Mr. Thomas Blackstone. The prop- 
erty, including land and buildings, is esti- 
mated at one million yen, or $500,000 gold. 
The graduates number, all told, 440. These 
graduates represent the following callings: 
Teachers, 47 ; pastors, 45 ; business men, 
80 ; government officials, 27 ; army and navy 
officers, 9; professions, 16; students in 
Japan and America, no; balance, unknown. 



60 Christianity in Japan. 

The institution occupies a leading place 
among Christian schools. It has been re- 
solved to raise it to the rank of a university 
in the near future. An endowment of a 
half million dollars is an immediate need. 
For some years past this school has enjoyed 
special recognition by the Board of Educa- 
tion, and its graduates have received special 
favors on account of its splendid work. 

Chinzei Gakuin. 
This school, located in Nagasaki, was for 
several years known as the "Cobleigh Semi- 
nary." The Rev. Dr. Long gives the his- 
tory of the origin as follows: I received a 
gift of $2.00 on my departure for Japan 
from the widow of Dr. Cobleigh. I re- 
solved to make this the seed of a fund for 
a school. Appeals were made, and $1,200 
secured from all sources. With this a build- 
ing was erected on the present fine site of 
Chinzei. In subsequent years the name was 
changed to Chinzei. The school is in a 
flourishing condition. It has a higher 
academic course. It occupies a first rank 
among Christian schools for young men 
in South Japan. It has been very pros- 



The M. E. Church in Japan, 61 

perous and has educated a small army of 
young men, some of whom have attained 
distinction in various callings. 

Thus the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
though somewhat late in entering the 
field, has held a leading position in 
Christian education for years. The wis- 
dom of this policy in Japan is beyond 
question. The newly formed Methodist 
Church will, no doubt, continue to develop 
the schools already established. These 
schools for the youth of both sexes 
should be liberally endowed and made the 
very best in the Empire. 

Publishing Houss. 

At the meeting of the Mission in 1886, 
it was voted to start a Publishing House, 
to be located on the "Ginza." 

The Conference, at its session in 1886, 
requested the president to appoint a Pub- 
lishing Agent to superintend, under the di- 
rection of the Mission, the general publish- 
ing work. The Rev. I. H. Correll was ap- 
pointed, and at the next session of the Con- 
ference reported that 4,480,632 pages had 
been printed during the year. "Evidences 



62 Christianity in Japan. 

of Revelation," Whedon's "Commentary on 
Matthew," and Miley's "Theology," were 
being put through the press. This was a 
promising beginning, and a prophecy of the 
success to be achieved in the following 
years. The house was without capital, and 
but for the grants made by the Tract and 
Sunday-school Union Societies, the work 
could not have been done. 

The following named missionaries acted 
as agents and publishers from 1885 to 1899, 
the year of the arrival of Mr. J. L. 
Cowen: L. W. Squier, I. H. Correll, H. 
W. Schwartz, J. O. Spencer, C. Bishop, J. 
W. Wadman, and JL G. Cleveland. Mr. 
Cowen, in addition to the treasurership of 
the Mission, was made the agent of the 
Publishing House. A new press building 
was constructed at Aoyama, and occupied 
in 1900. The factory work was conducted 
in this building until the year 1906, when 
it was removed to the present premises at 
Ginza. The value of the property in 1905, 
aside from the stock of books, did not ex- 
ceed Yen 9,000, whereas its present value 
is not less than Yen 100,000, or $50,000 
gold. The total assets are Yen 193,155, or 
$96,577-50 goW e 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 63 

With a gift of $2,000 from the Mission- 
ary Society, and the sale of lots in Tokyo, 
the fine property in the heart of the busi- 
ness center of the city was secured. New 
buildings were erected for the printing and 
sales departments, so that it is now the 
most attractive business house in this fa- 
mous business section. 

The sales department in the new premises 
is roomy, convenient, and entirely modern, 
so that books can be displayed most advan- 
tageously. The increase of sales as a result 
will appear from the following figures: 
Sales in 1905, Yen 40,265 ; in 1906, Yen 
50,625; in 1907, Yen 59,817. The total 
sales of English literature from the year 
1 89 1 to 1907 were Yen 313,624.68, or gold 
$156,812.34. Sales of Japanese literature 
in the same time were Yen 62,333.65, mak- 
ing a total of Yen 375^958-33- 

The demand for books in the English 
tongue grows rapidly from year to year. 
Mr. Cowen is facile princeps in the English 
and American book trade in the Far East. 
He has placed before Japanese students of 
English the standard works on Christianity 
produced in Great Britain and America, and 



64 Christianity in Japan. 

by so doing has contributed materially to the 
diffusion of Christianity throughout the Em- 
pire, and furnished the Christians with the 
best thought of the Christian world. In 
addition, high-toned English literature of a 
general character is supplied to a growing 
army of Japanese readers. The sales of 
the best Japanese books, especially Chris- 
tian, are growing also. The finely equipped 
printing department is turning out good 
work in the English, Japanese, and Korean 
tongues. 

Our Publishing House is entering upon a 
new epoch of expansion. The return of 
peace and the rapid diffusion of Christianity 
will create in the near future enormous de- 
mands for literature. Our House printed 
the Union Hymnal of the Japanese 
Churches, and already 300,000 copies have 
been sold. The demand for this book is 
national. It is widely circulated among 
families who are not Christian. Mr. Cowen 
for seven years has toiled unceasingly to 
develop this business, and he now has his 
reward in the fine property and the large 
business which the House is doing. In the 
Western Methodist Book Concern, Cincin- 



The M. E. Church in Japan. 65 

nati, he had years of training in the book 
business, an invaluable asset which he has 
loyally used in this great undertaking. As- 
sociated with him in obtaining the property 
and creating the new printing plant and 
building up the House, is the Rev. D. S. 
Spencer. During two years in the United 
States he traveled and lectured, and suc- 
ceeded in raising $25,000 for the printing 
department. Thousands of laymen w r ere 
made acquainted with the Publishing 
House, its needs and opportunities. These 
men have wrought nobly and are duly re- 
warded with success. Dr. Soper and Rev. 
Charles Bishop and others have also done 
much for the enterprise. 

The future of this House takes on new 
interest from the union of Methodism. It 
is hoped that the Canada Methodist Church 
and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 
will unite in the Publishing House, furnish 
additional capital, and make the Book 
Concern of Japan worthy to rank with 
the great sister establishments in America, 
Great Britain, and Canada. 
5 



CHAPTER VII. 
The Methodist Church of Japan. 

On the 22d of May, 1907, there con- 
vened at Aoyama, Tokyo, the first General 
Conference of the "Methodist Church of 
Japan." The delegates, numbering sixty- 
four, represented the Methodist Episcopal, 
the Methodist Episcopal, South, and the 
Canada Methodist, the three bodies which 
had already agreed to unite and form a Na- 
tional Japanese Church. 

There were present six commissioners 
from the above named denominations, who 
came to represent the American bodies and 
assist in the organization of the new 
Church. Already the Joint Commission, 
composed of fifteen members, which had 
been appointed by their respective General 
Conferences on the subject of the Union of 
Methodism in Japan, had held several meet- 
ings and had reached an agreement as to 
the "Plan of Organization." However, as 
there were many questions which could only 

tart 66 



Methodist Church of Japan. 67 

be settled on the field, this Joint Commis- 
sion agreed to send six of their members 
to Japan to meet the delegates and assist 
in the organization of the new Church. 
Bishop Earl Cranston and the Rev. A. B. 
Leonard, D. D., senior Missionary Secre- 
tary, represented the Methodist Episcopal 
Church; Bishop A. W. Wilson and Rev. 
J. W. Lambuth, D. D., the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, South ; and General Superin- 
tendent A. Carman, D. D., and Rev. Alex- 
ander Sutherland, D. D., the Methodist 
Church in Canada. 

The commissioners presided in turn over 
the Conference until the organization was 
effected by the adoption of the Discipline 
and the election of the Rev. Yoitsu Honda 
the first Bishop. 

The Conference adjourned on the 7th day 
of June, amid profound thankfulness. The 
sessions had been marked by unity of spirit 
and devotion to the cause of Christ. The 
work of the commissioners was accepted 
gratefully and without request for material 
modifications. The relations of these dis- 
tinguished men from the home Churches 
with the missionaries and all the Japanese 



68 Christianity in Japan. 

delegates were very cordial and confi- 
dential. The business of the Conference 
was conducted with wisdom, zeal, and with- 
out friction. 

"The Methodist Church of Japan" begins 
its existence with a splendid body of min- 
isters and laymen, who have been well 
trained in the doctrine, Discipline, and us- 
ages of world-Methodism. The member- 
ship is thirteen thousand, and the ordained 
ministers about one hundred, with fifty un- 
ordained. The organized Churches number 
one hundred and thiry — all of them either 
wholly or partly self-supporting. There are 
eighty-six church buildings, and land valued 
at Yen 210,000. There are 247 Sunday- 
schools, with 18,000 pupils. There are 
three colleges and high schools, with 1,200 
students. For girls there are thirteen board- 
ing schools, with 1,800 pupils; thirty-two 
day schools, with 2,713 pupils; also two 
schools for Bible women. There are in ad- 
dition two theological seminaries ; making a 
total of fifty-four schools, with about 6,000 
pupils. 

If to the above there be added the mem- 
bership of the Protestant Methodist, United 



Methodist Church of Japan. 69 

Brethren, and Evangelical Association, the 
total will be about 16,000. It is hoped that 
in due time these Churches will unite with 
the "New Church." In that event the 
Methodist communicants will equal in num- 
bers the Presbyterian and Congregational, 
the largest denominations in the Empire. 
The total force of missionaries, men and 
women, is 164. This number should not be 
reduced, but reinforced as the growing 
Church may demand. The development of 
the native ministers is of first importance. 
A well-equipped native missionary is the 
equal of the foreign, and in many relations 
his superior. The mission of the mission- 
aries to the masses in Japan is a limited 
one. The training of all sorts of workers 
is the great work of the American mis- 
sionary. 

The growing Church here will open her 
doors to the man or woman who has the 
gifts and culture required for this kind of 
work. 

Leaders of the New Methodism. 
Among the leaders of the new Meth- 
odism, Bishop Yoitsu Honda is facile prin- 
ceps. By birth and training a samurai of 



70 Christianity in Japan. 

the samurai, he was disciplined under the 
rigorous regime of Bushido, and grew up 
inured to sacrifice, a stranger to "softness 
and indulgence." In his young manhood 
he found Christ, and made a voluntary sur- 
render, and since then has led the life of a 
noble Christian knight. Most of his life 
has been devoted to the training of young 
men. For many years he was the principal 
of the Yoo-Gijiku, in Hirosaki, an academy 
founded by Lord Tsugaru, and during the 
past seventeen years the beloved president 
of Aoyama College, Tokyo. Many of his 
pupils have attained distinction, and all of 
them esteem him as a great and good man. 
Bishop Honda is a powerful evangelical 
preacher. One volume of his sermons has 
been published. He was the leader of the 
citizens in his native province, and they 
entreated him to be their first representative 
in Parliament; but he turned from these 
opportunities for distinguished service for 
his country in the realm of politics to the 
quiet service of a Christian preacher. He is 
personally acquainted with most of the great 
men of the nation, by whom he is much 
respected for his ability and character. 



Methodist Church of Japan. 71 

During the last war he was often consulted 
by the government, and was intrusted with 
delicate and important missions. He is yet 
in the vigor of middle life, and may live 
and work for fifteen years. As before 
stated, he enjoys the distinction of being 
the first Christian of his nation to be ele- 
vated to the Episcopacy. By his people he 
is recognized as a "born bishop." His re- 
lations with many Christian world organi- 
zations and movements have made him ac- 
quainted with the leaders of the Christian 
Church. By nature, training, and oppor- 
tunity he is admirably fitted to lead the new 
Church to great achievements. 

Dr. Y. Hiraiwa, D. D., was by birth, also, 
a samurai of high rank. His training was 
that of the samurai. In his young man- 
hood he met the Rev. George Cochran, of 
the Canada Methodist Church, through 
whose efforts he found Christ, to whom he 
surrendered his life. At once he became a 
knight of the cross, and for thirty years 
has preached the Gospel with thrilling 
power and success. For many years past 
he has been chosen president of their Con- 
ference. In point of age he is near Bishop 



72 Christianity in Japan. 

Honda. In the General Conference he took 
a leading part, and won golden opinions 
from his brethren. He is in vigorous health 
and loves hard work. He is also a very 
able administrator. His appointment to the 
headship of the Committee on Evangeliza- 
tion is very appropriate. He will organize 
and execute a great forward movement. 
He received the Doctorate from Victoria 
University. 

The Rev. K. Usaki was the Japanese sec- 
retary of the General Conference, and now 
the editor of the "Gokyo," the organ of the 
new Church. He is a well-equipped man, 
massive in body and brain, well educated, 
scholarly — a very able preacher — positive 
in belief, and evangelical. He is much 
younger than Bishop Honda, and has before 
him a great future. His development came 
through the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South. 

Rev. I. Ogata, D. D., an alumnus of De- 
Pauw University, the presiding elder of the 
Tokyo District, is one of the strong, safe, 
spiritual leaders. He received five votes for 
bishop. 

Rev. M. Takagi, D. D., one of the 



Methodist Church of Japan. 73 

younger men of the Canada Church, is a 
brilliant writer, able preacher, and popular 
teacher. He is now one of the professors 
in the theological school. His Doctorate 
came from the McGill University. 

Prominent among the laymen is the Hon. 
Sen Tsuda. In age and membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church he ranks first. 
The first convert of our mission in Tokyo, 
he was a delegate to the late General Con- 
ference here, in which he took a prominent 
part. He is the pioneer of the new scientific 
agriculture of Japan, opened the first school 
for agriculture, and published the first Agri- 
cultural Magazine, a periodical still in cir- 
culation. He was a commissioner to the 
World's Fair in Vienna, and also repre- 
sented the government in an important mis- 
sion at Chicago World's Fair. His young- 
est daughter was one of the famous num- 
ber of girls sent to America to be educated 
in 1870. She is now one of the great 
women of the nation. After the organiza- 
tion of the new Church had been effected, 
he arose and expressed his gratitude as fol- 
lows : "The people of Japan asked the Em- 
peror for a constitution and Parliament. 



74 Christianity in Japan. 

His majesty granted our prayer, and thus 
conferred great happiness upon the Empire. 
The three Methodist Churches of Japan 
joined in asking the mother Churches in 
Canada and America for union and inde- 
pendence and a Constitution. Our prayers 
have been graciously answered. We are 
thankful, and have no doubt that the new 
Church will be greatly prospered." 

The Hon. Taro Ando is a layman. He 
was converted while Consul General in 
Hawaii in 1888. He, also, is a samurai of 
high rank. His father was physician to the 
Lord of Shima. He was in the suite of 
Prince Iwakura in his mission to America 
and Europe. For many years he was Con- 
sul at Hongkong, and has filled many im- 
portant offices in the government. About 
ten years ago he retired, and has since been 
in business, but is principally devoted to the 
spread of Christian temperance. He is the 
president of the National Temperance As- 
sociation, edits a temperance magazine 
which has a large circulation, and is also 
a powerful lay-preacher. The story of his 
conversion is circulated as a tract, and has 
been the means of converting many. 



Methodist Church of Japan. 75 

Though a delegate to the General Confer- 
ence, he could not take part on account 
of illness. 

The Hon. S. Ebara, M. P., was one of 
the early converts to Christianity, and joined 
the Canada Methodist Church. For many 
years he was a military cer, but is known 
as an educator, and considers this his life- 
work. He is the director of a Middle School 
in Tokyo, and a member of the Higher Edu- 
cational Council ; is a member of Parliament 
and a leader of the Constitutional Party, 
now in power, and only lacked six votes of 
being chosen speaker of the present House. 
Since the first opening of Parliament in 
the country he has been a member of that 
body. He is president of the Tokyo Young 
Men's Christian Association, and a gentle- 
man of great purity and weight of char- 
acter. He is an active worker in the 
Church, and a superior and impressive 
preacher. 

The Hon. Sho Nemoto, M. P., sat as a 
lay delegate in the General Conference. He 
was educated in the schools of San Fran- 
cisco, and is a graduate of the University 
of Vermont. For ten years past he has rep- 



76 Christianity in Japan. 

resented Mito Province in Parliament, and 
is the author of several measures for tem- 
perance and social reform. As a worker in 
the Church he is very effective, a man of 
growing influence in the nation, and a stal- 
wart Christian. 

Shosuke Sato, Ph. D., of Sapporo, Japan. 
He is one of the first graduates of the Sap- 
poro Agricultural College, and for a long 
time its president. He is now president of 
the university lately created. Dr. Sato was 
converted when a student, and has been a 
stanch Christian since that time. He is 
the most distinguished citizen of Hokkaido, 
an educator of great reputation. 

Rev. M. Sasamori, Ph. D., is the presi- 
dent of Chinzei Gakuin, our college and 
academy located at Nagasaki. He is an 
alumnus of DePauw University, and since 
his return to Japan has been connected with 
this great school in the South. He has been 
prominent in Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation work, having represented the Jap- 
anese Young Men's Christian Association 
at one of its world-gatherings. At the next 
session of the General Conference he will 
represent the Methodist Church of Japan 
as a fraternal delegate. 



Methodist Church of Japan. 77 

In the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
South, I must make special mention of Pres- 
ident Yoshi.3ka, who is the head of the 
Kansei College, Academy, and Theological 
School. He is a man of solid worth and 
learning, worthy to be a pillar in the new 
Church. This mission entered Japan much 
later than the other two Churches, and has 
not had sufficient time in which to mature 
her men; hence her success is the more 
noteworthy. In addition to the Rev. K. 
Usaki, I would name Rev. T. Kugimiya, 
pastor of Hiroshima Church (South) ; 
Hori, pastor of Kobe Church, and Capt. 
I. Nishkawa, a layman, among the many 
promising workers who will surely come 
to the place of leadership in the new organi- 
zation. Time would fail me to tell of the 
many lay and clerical leaders in the three 
uniting Churches who will surely be heard 
from and are worthy to be named in the 
annals of Christ's kingdom. Thank God for 
the rank and file and leadership of this 
youngest Methodist Church, and the prom- 
ise they give for its future! 



CHAPTER VIII. 
The Christian Outlook. 

In the year 1859 missionaries made their 
advent into Japan. In the year 1872 the 
edicts against Christianity were removed, 
and the ten thousand old Catholics — de- 
scendants of the 16th century Christians — 
whose faith had survived through all suc- 
ceeding generations, were released. This 
year marks the real opening of Japan to 
Christianity. The first Church was formed 
the same year. It is indeed a far cry from 
the Japan of 1872 to the present hour. 
Then the Empire was a unit in its 
hatred of the very name of Christianity. 
It was the "corrupt sect," the arch-enemy 
of Japan, which, once admitted, would 
threaten the very existence of the country 
and destroy society. 

The attitude of the government and 
people at this time is well known, Chris- 
tianity is recognized in the Constitution and 
78 



The Christian Outlook. 79 

the laws of the Empire. There is no dis- 
crimination against the faith or its follow- 
ers. All Christian schools which choose to 
ask for government recognition may ob- 
tain this favor by conforming to rules 
which do not hinder the freedom of the 
schools in matters of religion, while it con- 
fers great advantages. The position, then, 
of missionaries and native Churches is al- 
most an ideal one in point of privilege, pro- 
tection, and opportunity. The Christians 
of the Empire have no grievances, and they 
are satisfied with their treatment under the 
laws. This statement implies the astound- 
ing changes \ hich have taken place in the 
past generation. Christianity has found a 
congenial, permanent home in the nation. 

The leading Protestant bodies, such as 
the Congregational, Presbyterian, Prot- 
estant Episcopal, and Methodist Epis- 
copal, have become national Churches, 
ecclesiastically independent and largely 
self-supporting, and of course self-gov- 
erning. The position of these Churches 
in the Empire is relatively a commanding 
one. Christian laymen are filling many po- 
sitions of importance in civil and military 



80 Christianity in Japan. 

life. Many of the leading" journalists are 
Christian. In the new business world also 
Christians are prominent in situations 
where their integrity and ability are po- 
tential. 

The leaders in the Churches are, many 
of them, of world-wide fame. Not a few 
have been educated in European and Amer- 
ican universities. The majority, perhaps, of 
the ministers are of the "samurai" rank; 
though there are no class privileges in the 
nation. Knighthood rules in Japan, the 
leaders largely coming from this source. 

The actual number of Christians, Prot- 
estant and Catholic, falls short of 200,000, 
yet the nominal Catholics are reckoned at 
from one to two millions. This is a re- 
markable showing for thirty-five years of 
propagandism. The creation of these great 
and influential Churches in so short a time 
seems almost incredible. The influence of 
Christianity upon society is very marked. 
The Sabbath is and has been a national holi- 
day and institution since 1876. All govern- 
ment offices are closed, also the schools and 
leading mercantile houses. Recognition of 
its sacred character is, of course, confined 



The Christian Outlook, 81 

to Christian believers. At Christmas time 
there is recognition of this international 
festival. All Japan rejoices. The Christ- 
mas exercises create great interest and joy 
in the families. It is a time when many 
decide to be Christians. The wide diffu- 
sion of Christian ideas, influences, and 
standards are manifest in its new literature, 
the new music, the new ethical standards, 
and legislation for social betterment. In 
the world of education, also, Christian 
music has captured the nation. Pianos and 
organs, violins, etc., are extensively manu- 
factured and sold to families. Christian 
music and hymns have a circulation far be- 
yond the Church lines. Hymn-books are, 
in fact, more extensively sold than Bibles. 
Many families, Buddhist and Shinto, use 
the hymns in their homes. The Bible has 
had wide diffusion, and continues to grow 
in popularity. Not only the people read 
it, but the army of Buddhist and Shinto 
priests read it, and, in the same connec- 
tion, Christian books in Japanese and Eng- 
lish. Their sermons and writings are thus 
enriched and modified by Christian ideas. 
The Buddhists have prepared a Bible 
6 



82 Christianity in Japan. 

corresponding in size, arrangement, and ap- 
pearance to the New Testament. Buddhism 
in its methods of work copies literally the 
Christian appliances, and, at the same time, 
appropriates Christian teaching. Indeed, 
the new Buddhism of Japan is half-Chris- 
tian. A volume of popular sermons re- 
cently preached in Tokyo by a priest of the 
Shinshu sect, and translated into English, 
is almost Christian save for its terminology. 
The old Buddhism has really passed away. 
The same may be said of Confucianism. 
The granting to Christianity of full privi- 
leges and perfect freedom of action ac- 
counts for the rapid diffusion of the Gos- 
pel. The inherent fullness of Christianity, 
its original, life-giving and illuminating 
message, meeting a society awakened to a 
love of truth and progress and having a 
great hospitality for new and vital truth, 
may also explain the place of power of 
Christianity in the nation. Buddhism, at first 
indifferent to the presence of Christian mis- 
sions and missionaries, then awakening to 
the fact that the long-excluded and despised 
faith had re-entered the country and was 
making inroads, became fiercely antago- 
nistic. 



The Christian Outlook. 83 

Books were written appealing to the low- 
est hatred. Priests and hired speakers 
went through the land warning the faithful. 
This antagonism continued for years, but 
has, within five years, passed away. Now 
the attitude of Buddhism is distinctly 
friendly. At the opening of the Russo- 
Japanese war Buddhists asked Christians 
to unite in a great meeting to define the 
issues of the w r ar. The meeting was called 
and largely attended by Christian, Buddhist, 
and Shinto representatives. The sentiments 
expressed were most friendly, and were 
crystallized in a series of resolutions defin- 
ing the issues involved in the war to be 
not antagonism of race or creed, but the 
peace of the Far East and the integrity of 
Japan, Korea, and China. Following the 
close of the war and the return of the sol- 
diers, another great meeting was held, com- 
posed of leading men of the three religions, 
and was most harmonious and beneficial in 
its results. Again during the session of the 
World's Student Christian Federation in 
Tokyo, in April of 1907, the great national 
gathering of Buddhists convened at the 
same time, sent a deputation to the students' 



84 Christianity in Japan. 

meeting to convey to them warm greetings 
and wishes for the success of their under- 
takings. To this an equally cordial re- 
sponse was made by the convention. 

For years past not only have attacks on 
Christianity ceased, but Christianity as the 
Great World Religion, professed by her al- 
lies, is welcomed as a boon to the nation, 
and wide room is made for this World 
Religion. 

Professor Anezaki, who fills the chair of 
Philosophy of Religion in the Imperial 
University, asked a great Christian scholar 
to deliver a series of lectures on Chris- 
tianity to his students. This request has 
been complied with. Another reason why 
the Gospel is now welcomed is this : Dur- 
ing the great Russo-Japanese conflict, the 
religious nature of the people was deeply 
moved. Also missionaries in Japan became 
one with the nation in this struggle, and 
through the army department of the Young 
Men's Christian Association, and by count- 
less acts of kindness to sick and wounded 
soldiers, deeply impressed the people and 
government. Christianity is here to re- 



The Christian Outlook. 85 

spond to the newly-awakened need for vital 
religion. 

The old class of philosophers, the Con- 
fucian Moralists and Agnostics, who were 
accustomed to laugh at religion as suitable 
for the ignorant, but not worth while for 
men of education, have been relegated, for 
the most part, to the past. 

The new attitude of the educated lead- 
ers is one of respect for religion ; yes, more, 
a conviction that it is vital to the well- 
being of society. 

The new Christian literature now issuing 
from the press is not polemical, nor even 
apologetic, but positive, evangelistic, didac- 
tic, and practical. The people want sym- 
pathy, inspiration, and truth to feed the 
inner life. 

The sermon or book which sets forth 
Christ as life-giver, consoler, redeemer, 
purifier, meets the situation, and is read or 
listened to with delight. 

Will Japan be Christian? This seems to 
be almost a superfluous question. She has 
already become Christian to a great extent, 
as sketched above, though only a moiety 



86 Christianity in Japan. 

of the population have been baptized into 
the name of Christ. It is apparently a ques- 
tion of time and effort. It may be hastened 
or delayed. 

The importance of the immediate evan- 
gelization of the nation will be recognized 
by all Christians. Her position as the leader 
of Asia in the new program of progress 
upon which these old nations have entered 
emphasizes this. If Japan be left unevan- 
gelized, this will greatly retard progress in 
China, Korea, and Southern Asia. A 
mighty effort is now being made to revive 
Buddhism and make it the chief religion of 
the awakened East. 

The missionaries now in Japan should re- 
main. The force here ought not to be re- 
duced in the least. The native pastors and 
teachers must be developed and multiplied, 
but as "teacher of teachers/' foreign mis- 
sionaries are helpers in the Gospel still 
sorely needed. The native force can not 
begin to meet the situation. Their labors 
must be supplemented. 

The Christians of America and Britain 
must gather around their brethren in Japan, 



The Christian Outlook. 87 

impart their best spiritual gifts, and push 
forward the gospelizing of the whole nation, 

Are they welcome? Yes, in every city 
and village. In the great cities, in the 
homes and schools, and in the social life 
everywhere they will be welcomed, since it 
is known that they bring gifts of life for all 
the people. 

The Japanese must be pastors and rulers 
over the Churches. This is not for the for- 
eigner ; but he is called upon to preach, bear 
witness, and confirm the faith of the weak 
and lead into the richer pastures of experi- 
ence and knowledge of the Word of God. 

The Churches in America and Great 
Britain, through their missionary societies, 
should continue to co-operate generously in 
gifts of money as well as by sending spe- 
cially trained men and women. Also our 
gifted men, like Prof. Bowne, of Boston; 
Dr. Cuthbert Hall, of New York; John 
R. Mott, Dr. John Goucher, and many 
other teachers of men, should be sent to 
Japan from time to time, to enrich the 
thoughts of the young Christian communi- 
ties, and through them the nation at large. 
A great teacher or prophet will have a more 



88 Christianity in Japan. 

genuine welcome to the "Sunrise Land" 
than a military hero or world-renowned 
statesman. 

The outlook is "bright as the promises 
of God," to use the words of the great Jud- 
son. The amazing progress of one genera- 
tion may well inspire the Church in Japan 
and abroad to win the nation entire in the 
next generation. It required Confucianism 
two hundred years to find a deep and per- 
manent place in the life of the educated 
classes. Buddhism, though welcomed at 
first, yet required nearly four hundred 
years to win over the whole nation. Chris- 
tianity in a hundred years will be every- 
where the regnant faith, provided the Chris- 
tians themselves go forward, as in the past, 
with love to God and enthusiasm for human 
salvation. 



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